Clothesline



Sept. 1, 1942.

H. L.. SNYDER CLOTHESLINE Filed Aug. 2o, 1941 Patented Sept. 1, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE] Harry L. Snyder, West Los Angeles, Calif. Application August 20, 1941, Serial No. 407,584

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a portable clothesline or support.

An object of the invention is to provide a portable clothesline that can be readily packed in a suitcase by a traveler and readily mounted on any suitable support, such as for example, a door knob, a dresser drawer knob, or a towel rack, and which will serve to support articles of wearing apparent, such as hose, handkerchiefs, and the like that a traveler may desire to launder in his room.

More specifically, an object of the invention is to provide a suitable support that may serve as a hanger for simple articles of wearing apparel that may have been laundered or other objects that comprises two reaches of a lband or tape that are closely positioned in side by side relationship so that when the articles of wearing apparel or other devices are inserted therebetween and released they will be effectively clamped and held in supported or suspended psition.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device having the above-described characteristics which is of very simple yet durable construction, and which may be easily and readily packed for transportation purposes.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be made manifest in the following detailed description and specifically pointed out the appended claim, reference is had to the accompanying drawing for an illustrative embodiment of the invention, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of the device embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a View in side elevation of a door knob illustrating the device embodying the present invention as having been applied thereto;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the end of a towel rack illustrating the device embodying the invention as having been applied thereto; y

Fig. 5 is a view in front elevation of the structure illustrated in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a front view in elevation illustrating the device embodying the invention as having been mounted in an alternative manner and as supporting an article, such as for example, a toothbrush; and

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 6.

Referring to the accompanying drawing wherein similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout, the device embodying beni; centrally to provide an inverted U-shaped loop I0 at the top of which there is preferably a curved portion of small radius indicated at II that forms an eye adapted to receive a fastening screw, such as that illustrated at I2, see Fig. 6. From the bottoms. of the legs of the inverted U there are outwardly extending extensions I3 and I4 preferably of equal length. These extensions have arms at their outer ends formed by bending the wire forwardly, the arms being indicated at I5 and I6. The forward ends of the arms are bent downwardly as at I1 and then rearwardly.

In the preferred form of construction there is stretched across the forward ends of the arms a rubber band I9. This band may assume a horizontal position on the arms as indicated in Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5, or it may be positioned around the downwardly bent portions I1 in which case the rubber band assumes a substantially vertical position as illustrated in Fig. 6. The top and bottom reaches of the taut rubber band are closely adjacent each other so that if an article, such as hose or handkerchief H which has been laundered is drawn between the reaches and released, the closely adjacent reaches of the rubber band will effectively clamp thereon and suspend the article. The rubber band is maintained in a taut condition by its own elasticity and the wire frame is slightly flexed tending to maintain it taut. In some instances, the band used need not be formed of rubber nor be formed of elastic material but may be an inelastic cloth tape which is applied by exing the arms slightly toward eachv other and slipping the band onto the arms and thereafter releasing the frame. The arms on tending to resume their normal position will maintain the tape in a taut condition.

The device embodying the present invention may be mounted on any suitable support, such as for example the device may be hung over the shank of a door knob D or it may be applied over the end of a towel rack R. If desired it may be mounted against the wall permanently by means of the screw I2.

In Fig. 3 the top and bottom reaches of thev rubber band I9 are horizontally disposed but if desired the band may be applied to the downwardly bent portion I1 in which case the reaches are vertically disposed. If an article such as a toothbrush T is inserted between the reaches and released, it will be effectively clamped by the reaches tending to assume a normal parallel position.

From the above-described construction it will the present invention comprises a wire frame be appreciated that the clothesline or support embodying the present invention is a very 'simple construction and can be easily manufactured. It is so shaped that it may be readily packed in a suitcase of a traveller without occupying any substantial amount of space. When used it serves to adequately support or suspend articles positioned thereon in spaced relation to a Wall or other support on which the frame is mounted.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as dened by the appended claim.

I claim A device of the class described comprising a Wire frame having a central loop by which it may be supported, extensions extending laterally therefrom and arms extending forwardly from the ends of the extensions adapted to have a band stretched taut therebetween, the forward ends of the arms being bent downwardly and then rearwardly.

Y HARRY L. SNYDER. 

